Lu-7

Lu-7 Lie Que 列缺 Broken Sequence

Lu-7 LièQuē 列缺 Broken Sequence

Luo connecting point
Confluent point of Ren Mai
Meeting point of the hand Tai Yin, hand Yang Ming and Ren Mai
Gao Wu command point
Heavenly star point

【Name explanation】1) 列, Liè means row or line, or it can be from another character, 裂, which means crack or split; 缺, Quē, means to lack or here broken utensil or to depart. 列缺, LièQuē means that heaven cracks by lightning, meaning that a flash is ripping and departing from the sky. The Lung is the lid, the uppermost organ like heaven. At Lu-7 Channel Qi departs to join with Yang Ming, like a flash departing from heaven. It treats Lung-defense being attacked by external evils and abnormalities of the dispersing and descending functions of the Lung.
2)Lu-7(列缺), means lightning. 《汉书·扬雄传》says: “列缺, heaven cracks, lightning emerges. ”The point is located in a “seam” behind the radial styloid process, and it is also where the hand Tai Yin Luo channel is departing from the main channel, therefore it is called列缺, LièQuē. 《Grand Simplicity of the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon(黄帝内经太素) 》 says: “from here it departs to the Luo part, from the sequence of the main channel, therefore its called broken. It breaks and departs from the main channel, therefore it is called 列缺, LièQuē. ”

【First appearance】《The Magic Pivot(灵枢) ·Channels》.

【Location】On the radial side of the forearm, proximal to the radial styloid process, 1.5 cun proximal to the transverse crease of the wrist. Between the brachioradial muscle and the tendon of the long thumb abductor.
Localization note: Where the index finger points proximal to the styloid process when crossing the hands by the tiger mouth (region between the index finger and the thumb).
《The Magic Pivot(灵枢) ·Channels》: “1.5 cun from the wrist, separates to join Yang Ming. ”《铜人腧穴针灸图经》: “When the hands cross, index finger points to the crack between the tendons and bones. ”
《针经指南》: “Behind the wrist high bone (radial styloid process) between the stitches”.
《针灸逢源》: “On the side 1.5 cun from the wrist”.

【Clinical application】
1. Diffuse the lung scatter wind: Lung channel Qi from here distributes to the outer, and governs skin and [body] hair, controls the surface of the whole body, therefore needling it diffuses the lung disinhibit Qi, scatter wind resolve the exterior. It is use to treat lung-defense attacked by external evil, abnormal dispersing and descendingcausing cough panting, common-cold headache, stiff neck, fascial paralysis and so on.
2. Disinhibit the throat free the Luo vessels: The nose is the external orifice of the Lung, the internal path of the Lung channel passes the throat, the gate of heavenly Qi (air), therefor needling it can diffuse the lung, clear and disinhibit the throat. Lu-7 is used to treat wind evil invading the lung, nose and throat disease due to impaired lung depuration. Lu-7 is also one of the master points of the eight vessels, opening Ren Mai, therefore this point can also disinhibit and regulate Ren Mai to treat reproduction system diseases.

【Modern research】Experiments show , needle Lu-7(列缺) combined with UB-23(肾俞) or K-6(照海) can strengthen kidney function, and lower blood pressure. Needle Lu-7(列缺) can also make the urinary bladder contract to increase urination. Also during vascular photoplethysmographyit was discovered that needling Lu-7(列缺) regulated tonus of the blood vessels.

【Note】Lu-7 and Lu-5(尺泽) both can diffuse the lung, but Lu-7(列缺) incline to effuse and dissipate external evil and diffuse the lung disinhibit Qi; Lu-5(尺泽) incline to clear the lung heat and diffuse the lung.